Garlic extract found to inhibit the proliferation of benign prostatic hyperplasia

A study published in Phytotherapy Research has determined that garlic (Allium sativum) can be used to inhibit the growth of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). For the study, researchers tested the effectiveness of A. sativum on rat models.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a non-cancerous urologic disease that affects most men older than 50. However, there is no effective cure for BPH, in particular, one that isn’t associated with negative side effects.

Due to these various adverse effects, experts are continually developing effective and herbal medicines that can safely be used long-term to inhibit the progress of BPH.

While garlic is commonly used in a wide spectrum of studies that are focused on determining its anti?hyperlipidemic, cardioprotective, and anti?inflammatory activities, no study yet has proven its efficacy as a cure for BPH.

For this study, researchers assessed the efficacy of garlic to verify its suppressing effects on the condition.

The researchers noted that garlic administration also helped reduce the levels of inflammatory proteins, iNOS, and COX?2 in prostatic tissue.

The researchers also observed the garlic-induced accumulation of death?inducing signal complex and activation of AMPK, along with decreased levels of anti?apoptotic proteins, like Bcl?2, Bcl?xL, and survivin while the study was being conducted.

The researchers concluded that garlic can help suppress the effects on BPH and that it can potentially be used to develop effective cures for the condition.